THE RUSSIAN REVOLT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 8

THE RUSSIAN REVOLT.

- A REMARKABLE PROPHECY. IN NINE-YEAR-OLD NOVEL. Nine years ago, says the “New York Times,” an American writer set out to write an imaginative novel-depicting as realities all sorts of amazing things- He told of telephones with attachments allowing those speaking through them to see each other though separated by thousands of aides, projectiles for passenger service shot through the air at treimenldous speed and landing travellers in Peking a few hours after leaving New York, and, other similar marvels infinitely surpassing anything at the service of the human race of the twentieth century.

As a fitting prelude to his imaginary era of super-wonders, the author casually tossed off a, few sentences about Russia,. He wrote them back in 1908- When he put the words on paper he doubtless did not believe that there was anything remarkable about them; he saw them, probably, as a mere flight of fancy, fitting well into his fanciful storv-

Rut to-day lie must look upon those words with owe, end ask himself whether ho is endowed with the gift of propheey. For here is what the American novelisf— Harry F. Rice. of Xenia, Ohio—tossed olf in his hook, “Kve and the Evangelist,” a full nine years ago while describing his imaginary world of the year 2,108: Hide by royalty was at this time a thing of the past in all Europe- Russia was the first to declare for individual freedom, the. declaration coining twelve years after the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War. The aristocracy, which was synonymous with bureaucracy, had vainly tried by the old method of iron rule to keep the people in subjection. Little by little the Grand Dukes and their army of sycophants were shorn of power. Final political emasculation came when Tsar Nicholas made a third unsuccessful attempt to reassert his so-called “divine rights.” Orders issued to the army and navy fell on deaf ears. The soldiery and sailors were honeycombed with sedition, fanned by great stacks of literature”. circdatml despite the activity of the Grand Dukes agents, edicts issued from StPetersburg, and loud claims made by blustering, be whiskered martinets in the uniforms of generals.

The crisis came on tint memorable nielli in May, 1910 —10th May; to be exact—when iie Grand Dukes issued orders through the weak r isar for the prohibition of revolutionary meetings, called for that nighty in (>very city of note in the Empire. Kegimeni after regiment of solrs. many from Kronstadt, was sent into the streets of Eetrograd, with orders to prevent the meeting arranged 'for that city, no difference what the cost might be. The troops were ordered to charge the crowds and clear the thoroughfares. Not an ordernas obeyed- Even the long-ielied-upo'n Cossacks were seized with the spirit of mutiny- _ Companv after companv of soldiers joined (he revolutionists. Tearing that their lives were in danger, the few officers that remained loyal to Nicholas hurried back to the place to find Nicholas, long weak-minded, a mumbling paret

An interesting point about the above prophecy is that the prophet reallv came closer to the actual events of the Russian revolt than would appear from his words- He states that the revolution came “twelve years after the conclusion of the RussoJapanese War." but then goes on to sav that the actual date was Kith Ala v, 1910. Now, the Russo-Japanese War ended in 1905, so that twelve years later would bo 1917 instead of 1916, The Tsar of Russia was actually deposed at midnight, 15-16 March, 1917- Therefore, the Ohio prophet, writing nine years ago, came within two months ot lulling the exact date- Surely a prophet who comes as near as that to an event which, when he wrote, seemed absolutely beyond the bounds of probability,is entitled to pat himself on the back and feel singled nut from his fellow-mem He did not confine his prophecies to Russia. Having settled the fate of Tsardom, lie turned his attention to Germany,